The Alamo and Goliad

1. The Alamo and Goliad Defeat in South Texas p. 237 - 241

2. Urrea Sweeps Northward to Refugio • While the fighting at the Alamo raged, General Urrea advanced from Matamoras up through South Texas. • Urrea battled a force of about 30 men under Captain Amon B. King at Refugio. Most of the Texans were either killed or captured. • Urrea then battled 100 Texans under Colonel William Ward at Refugio and Victoria. Most of the Texans were either killed or captured. • These battles were a severe blow to the Texan efforts to halt the Mexican army’s drive northward.

3. Fannin Delays His Departure • In February Fannin decided to help Travis at the Alamo, but a shortage of wagons caused him to return to Goliad. • Fannin was ordered by Houston to retreat toward Victoria. • Urrea attacked Fannin’s 300 men when they were resting to eat. • Urrea surrounded the Texans. Fannin assembled his soldiers in a square and drove the Mexicans back three times.

4. Fannin Delays His Departure • 7 Texans were killed and 60 were wounded, including Colonel Fannin. • The next morning, Urrea received reinforcements and opened fire on the Texans at daybreak. • After a brief exchange of gunfire, Fannin surrendered to Urrea. • The Battle of Coleto was over.

5. Texans Surrender • There has been confusion about the terms of surrender: Texans believed they were prisoners of war and would be treated fairly. • The surrender agreement, in Mexican archives, contains no such promise. The document states the Texans surrendered unconditionally. • Fannin and his troops were marched to Goliad, where they were imprisoned in the old presidio.

6. Santa Anna’s “Cruel Necessity” • General Urrea wrote to President Santa Anna, requesting that the lives of the prisoners be spared. • Santa Anna ordered the immediate execution of the Texans because he feared that if he let them go, they would join others in the rebellion. • All the soldiers were marched out into a prairie and shot. Colonel Fannin was the last to be shot. • General Urrea and many Mexican soldiers regretted Santa Anna’s decision.

7. The Lessons of the Alamo and Goliad • Texans may never have won their independence without the Battle of the Alamo. • The battle cost Santa Anna the lives of considerable number of professional solders. • News of the battle also inspired U.S. citizens to aid the Texans in their fight for freedom. • Santa Anna had hoped that the fall of the Alamo would convince the Texans to give up, but it had the opposite effect. • News of the executions at Goliad angered Texans. “Remember Goliad” now joined “Remember the Alamo” as the rallying cries of the Texas soldiers.